Berlin Hiland cruises to second straight Division IV state championship game

Berlin Hiland guard Noelle Yoder led all scorers with 22 points to lift the Hawks to a second straight D-IV state title game

Berlin Hiland will have the opportunity to defend its Division IV state championship after advancing to the title game for the second straight season cruising past Carey 73-42 in the Division IV state semifinals Thursday in the 34th Annual State Girls Basketball Tournament at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center.

COLUMBUS – Berlin Hiland will have the opportunity to defend its Division IV state championship after advancing to the title game for the second straight season and sixth time overall.

The Hawks will take on Columbus Africentric in a rematch of last season’s title game Saturday at 10:45 a.m.

Hiland (26-1) advanced to the title game utilizing its depth getting significant minutes from 11 different players.

“It was a typical style of game for us,” Hiland head coach Dave Schlabach said. “We played a lot of kids and I thought our depth was a factor. A lot of young kids had to play a lot of minutes for us.”

Hiland was a near perfect 27-of-30 from the free throw line.

“Getting (to the free throw line) is a big deal and we have really good shooters fundamentally and I think they did a nice job,” Schlabach said. “I thought the kids walked up there with confidence and did a good job at the line.”

The Hawks were paced by junior guard Noelle Yoder with 22 points, six rebounds and three steals off the bench.

“I just tried to focus on making plays and I just hit a few shots and got it going,” Yoder said.

Added Schlabach: “She got going about as well as she has all season for us. It was nice seeing her attack and play with a lot of confidence.”

Carey (23-3) trailed 39-23 at halftime but pulled within eight in the third quarter. The Blue Devils, however, struggled to hit shots down the stretch as Hiland pulled away.

Carey shot just 28.6 percent from the field and was a dismal 4-of-19 from three-point range in its first state tournament appearance scoring just five points in the fourth quarter.

“I was pleased with our shot selection but sometimes shots just don’t go in,” said Carey head coach Phil Vaughn. “You take a good shot and you hope the percentage is on your side,

“You would like to put the ball in the basket more but I felt real good about our team coming out and playing with Berlin Hiland. There was no giving up on my team’s part. They are a great basketball team and do what they do well.”